Thank you for your lovely reviews, especially roo17. Your long review was food for my soul! Haha.
One Piece © Eiichiro Oda
Beauty and the Beast © Disney
Law walks past the fruit cart that's parked right in front of school and keeps going until he rounds the corner bookstore then turns left. A minute later he reaches Franky's Gym (the best one in town) and crosses the road. Law's counting the steps to Cora-san's door now. Three, two, one, and voila he's standing on the welcome mat.
Law arrives later than usual. He had to stay after school to do a group work. That leaves him with about half an hour until the coffee shop closes. Still better than none, though. He hasn't visited for several days and he just needs, needs, needs to see the blond today.
As the raven-haired student steps across the threshold, the piano rendition of Beauty and the Beast can be heard.
Odd. Cora-san normally has the radio on pop or bossa nova channels (students' favorites).
Most people are on their way home by now, so the only remaining customer is a businessman tapping away happily on his laptop. He's perched on one of the high stools facing the wall, gently nodding to the music from his own headphones. Good. Seems like the guy won't be able to hear Law's conversation with Cora-san. Law hates eavesdroppers.
The teen finds the barista not behind the counter, but at the upright piano in the corner.
Live music. So that's why the acoustics are crystal clear.
The student dumps his backpack on an empty chair and approaches the antique piano, which he had always thought to be just for show, something that added a stylish touch to the ambient. He never would've imagined it to still sound up to snuff.
"Hello, Law," greets Cora-san as he turns his head to look at the youth. Apparently, the older male is good at memorizing coffee recipes as well as piano pieces. His eyes are on Law but his fingertips continue to caress the ivory and ebony keys.
"Never knew you could play," the tattooed teen comments.
"I play every once in a while. You've just never caught me in the act," the other replies with a charming smile before returning his focus on the keys.
Both remain silent throughout the rest of the song, the younger one secretly admiring how elegant the adult looks. Playing the piano really does give you a posh appearance.
The song finally ends with a nice little trill.
"Wanna try?" Cora-san asks while stands up to fish for something from the compartment under the bench's flip-top.
"I just know the basics like how to read the notes. One elective piano class per week at school hasn't done me that much good."
The taller male pulls out a worn piano book and closes the compartment. Instead of sitting on the center of the bench like earlier, he moves to sit on the right side.
"That's good enough. I'll play right hand and you play left. Sit, sit."
As Cora-san flips through the book, Law settles on the left side of the bench, leaving a couple of customary inches between him and the other, but the proximity is already enough to make the teen's heart go tha-thump, tha-thump against his ribcage.
"Move closer or the angle's gonna be awkward for your left hand," the older male says and gestures with his chin. Law scoots closer until their thighs are touching. This is the closest that Law's ever been to Cora-san. His heart's beating so hard that he's afraid Cora-san might hear it.
Together they play Beauty and the Beast again, which Law doesn't mind since it's a classic that's always pleasant to hear. Law's right hand is on his own thigh while Cora-san's left hand is on the edge of the bench behind Law's rear. The position has the shopkeeper slightly inclined towards Law, reminding Law of a pair of lovers sitting on soft grass at the park while watching fireworks light up the night sky together.
Law plays some wrong notes, but Cora-san doesn't mind. He's in such a good mood that he starts crooning the lyrics.
"Ever just the saaaaame
Ever a surpriiiiise..."
The blond's good humor seems to be infectious, because Law absolutely cannot stop smiling.
Another sequel?